Propulsion of vehicles



Oct. 15, 1929. L. P. DOYON PROPULSION OE; VEHICLES Filed Feb. 25. 1928 ML zmw n w w? LN s 4 w 7 0 Patented Hot. 15, 1929 LOUIS IE. DOYON, OF NEW WESTMINSTER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA PROPULSION OF VEHICLES Application. filed February 23, 1928.

This invention relates to a device for use in the propulsion of vessels, aeroplanes, sleighs, cars or any vehicle which can make use of the reaction of a fluid medium in which a vane or paddle is immersed, and which by its movement in the medium creates a propelling force, causing the movement of the said vehicle.

This device may be used to replace the usual rotatingpropellers on vessels, which make use of the reaction of water for this purpose, or for the replacement of air-ship propellers, which act upon air as the medium of propulsion.

Its object is to provide a simple and easily l5 constructed fitting which can be attached to any movable vehicle, and which, when operated by either hand or power, will cause a vane or paddle to move in a given straight line in the medium of propulsion, whether air W or water, and by its inclination to the direction of motion to produce the reactive effect necessary for propulsion.

The details of the invention are more clearly described by the drawings herewith which form part of this application, and which illustrate the application of the device to the hand propulsion of an ordinaryopen boat. The propulsion is effected by means of the mechanism shown in the drawings in 1rd which Fig. 1 is a partial end view of the device the linkage being shown in a position intermediate between the position occupied at the beginning or ending of a power stroke.

be 2 is a partial plan.

Fig. 3, a sectional elevation of the fixed fulcrum to an enlarged scale showing the relative position of the guides, linkage and operating lever on one side of the boat.

Fig. 4.- is a plan of same.

Fig. 5 is an alternative view to Fig. 3 showing how each half of the device can be made to pivot about a horizontal axis passing through the end fulcrum pin.

In these figures the main fulcrum pin 10 is shown secured in a clamping support 6 which is bolted or otherwise firmly secured to the gunwale 7 of the boat 8 in the proper relative position to the thwart 9.

Attached to the clamp 6 are the guides 11,

Serial No. 256,298.

which extend at right angles to the centre line of the boat and may consist of two parallel members maintained at a constant distance apart throughout their length by arched plates 12. The space between these parallel members forms a slideway for the movable fulcrum pins 13 which pass through slide blocks 14 and rotatably support the centre portions of the links 15, which are thus constrained to move in and out in the straight line of the axis of the guides 11. The outer ends of the links 15 are attached to each other by pins 16.

One of the end links 17 is keyed to the fixed fulcrum pin 10 to which the operating lever 20 is also keyed in correct angular relation, so that the movement of the handle 20 through a horizontal arc of length suitable to the reach of the operator results in the movement of the end pin 21 through a considerable dis tance along the axis of the guides, this distance depending upon the proportion of the links 15 and the amount of movement given to the operating lever 20.

The end pin 21 is extended downwards and forms the pivot for the vane or paddle 22, which is partly or wholly immersed in the water in which the boat 8 floats, and which is revolvable about the pivot 21, the amount of rotation being controlled by stops which arrest the vane 22 at one end and the other 01. its allowed motion. These stops may be conveniently formed by sector-shaped projections on the upper face of the eye extension of the lower end of the strut 25.

The vane 22 is pivoted at some distance from the vertical line passing through its centre of area, so that the vane areas on each side of the vertical pivot 21 are unequal. The result is that when the pivot 21 is in motion along the guide 11 the vane 22 is forced against one of the stops, and assumes a position indicated at 23 when the pin 21 is moving outwarc s from the boat 8, and swings back and takes the position 24 when the direction of motion of the pin 21 is reversed. Either direction of movement meets with resistance produced by the water through which the vane moves, and the resultant of this resistant force in a directional parallel to the axis tion 24 may have a different angle of incidence to the position 23, and consequently the return stroke of the operating handle may be made much easier to accomplish than the pulling stroke. In the application of an engine or power unit to work the device, equal power being available in either direction, this differential adjustment of the vane angles would not be necessary.

The pivot 21 is shown supported by a strut 25 the outboard end of which travels on a pin 26 secured by links to the pivot pin 21 above and below the guides 11, and therefore travelling with it. The guides 11 are shown supported and stayed by the members 19 inclined in a vertical plane, and by the horizontal members 27 so as to hold them rigid in relation to the boat 8.

, In order to provide for the rolling of the boat, the guides 11 may be hinged to rotate about a horizontal axis 28 carried in lug brackets 29 attached to the clamp 6, and the top of the pin 1O is then made with a cylindrical cross-head 30 which is enclosed by the end 31 of the lever 20, the latter being modi- 'fied in design for the purpose of assembly on the cross-head 30, and also to allow the lever to rock upon the top of the pin and thus remain in the proper position relative to the operator, while remaining capable of transmitting, the necessary turning movement to the pin 10, and thus to the linkage 15.

' When the device is made rotatable about the horizontal axis 28, the supporting members 19 are made telescopic, and kept tensioned'by springs. These springs are made insufiiciently strong to support combinedly the'W'eightof the device, a small float 32 being used on the end of the member 11 to sup- .port'fthe latter atthe proper distance from the surface of the water.

It is understood that only one half of the device is-' shown in the drawings, and that a similar mechanism is attached to the other .siderof the boat or vehicle.

Having now fully described my invention,

what I claim and desire to be protected in 5 and guide'the movingpivots of said linkwork, a supporting bracket to which the said tli'deway and the terminal pivot of said linkwork is secured, a crank integral with said terminal pivot, said terminal pivot being secured to the terminal links of said link-work,

said crank being'adapted to impart motion to the said link-work arrangement, a flat propelling blade pivotally secured below the outer extremity of said linlework, connected'to the outer extremity of said link-work whereby the angular motion of said blade is limited as desired.

2. Propulsion means for use in a fluid medium and comprising a motion multiplying arrangement of link-work of the nature of a pantograph, a slideway adapted to support and guide the moving pivots of said link-work, a supporting bracket to which the said slideway and the terminal pivot of said link-work is secured, a crank integral with said terminal pivot, said terminal pivot being secured to the terminal links of said linkwork, said crank being adapted to impart motion to the said link-work arrangement, a flat propelling blade pivotally secured below the outer extremity of said link-work, connected to the outer extremity of said linkwork whereby the angular motion of said blade is limited as desired, a buoyancy member secured at the outer extremity of said link-work mechanism.

3. Propulsion means for use in a fluid medium and comprising a motion multiplying arrangement of link-work of the nature of a pantograph, a slideway adapted to support and guide the moving pivots of said slink-work, a supporting bracket to which the said slideway and the terminal pivot of said link-work is secured, a crank integral with said terminal pivot, said terminal pivot being secured to the terminal links of said link-work, said crank being adapted to impart motion to the said link-work arrangement, a flat propelling blade pivotally secured below the outer extremity of said link-work, connected to the outer extremity of said link-work whereby the angular motion of said blade is limited as desired, a buoyancy member secured at the outer extremity of said link-work mechanism, a pivot member secured in said supportng bracket and having its axis right-angular to the axis of said terminal pivot, whereby any relative angular motion in the vertical plane between the said buoyancy member and the said supporting member may be compensated.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LOUIS P. DOYON. 

